I created my first Wakelet account several years ago after attending a virtual presentation on Wakelet accessibility features, but I didn’t really use it very often until I completed the free self-paced Wakelet Certified course and discovered how I could Wakelet not only with assistive technology, but to learn about assistive technology and view curated collections and resources from other users around the world. Since then, I’ve used Wakelet for creating interactive notebooks for school projects, organizing links and documentation for trainings, and saving resources that I can use for future posts or assignments. Here is how I use Wakelet accessibility features for low vision and print disabilities, and an overview of how to use the free Wakelet tool for digital bookmarking and organizing content.
Wakelet app overview
Wakelet is a free cross-platform digital curation tool that makes it easy to save, organize, and share digital content such as websites, videos, images, and applications, as well as options for uploading files from a user’s device. Wakelet supports multiple options for reading text content and navigating collections, including integration with Microsoft Immersive Reader, built-in accessibility features and compatibility with other assistive technology software. Wakelet collections can be shared online with a custom link or kept private for personal use.
Wakelet is available as a web browser application with no additional downloads required, which can also be accessed in mobile web browsers. Wakelet also offers free mobile apps for iOS (15.0 and up), Android (8.0 and up), and Amazon (8.0 and up).
A note on Wakelet plans
For users who created a Wakelet account prior to July 4th, 2023, Wakelet is 100% free to use and all premium features are included as part of their legacy plan. For users who created an account after that date, Wakelet offers a premium plan for $72/year with options for unlimited collaboration and publishing for public collections, as well as video upload options.
Related links
- Wakelet website
- Wakelet on the App Store (apple.com)
- Wakelet – Apps on Google Play
- Wakelet on the App Store (apple.com)
- Wakelet Plans – Help Center
Creating a Wakelet account and setting up collections
Signing up for Wakelet
Users can sign up for a free Wakelet account on the Wakelet homepage using an email address or by connecting a Google, Apple, or Microsoft account. When signing up with an email account, users will need to provide their name, email address, and birthday, as well as create a password. Per Wakelet terms of service, users must be at least 13 years old to create an account, though younger users can still view shared Wakelet collections without needing an account.
Creating a new Wakelet and Wakelet privacy
To create a new Wakelet collection, users can select the Create Collection icon in the top right corner of the screen, which also has a plus symbol. Once users add a title for their Wakelet, they can customize the display further by opening the Design menu, which provides options for adding a cover image, background image, and customizing the layout of items.
By default, Wakelet collections are set to private and no one can view them, even if they have the collection link. This can be edited in the Share and Publish menu, with options for sharing content as view-only or adding edit privileges for those who have the link. If users would like to make their collection visible in Search and Explore and have it visible on their profile, users can select the Publish option in the same menu. Collections can be unpublished at any time and set to private again using the same Share and Publish menu.
Related links
- Choosing Device Wallpapers and Backgrounds With Low Vision
- Online Safety For Visually Impaired Users: Safer Internet Day
Wakelet interface
Once logged in, the Wakelet homepage will display a list of collections that the users has created, along with an option to create a new collection- I go over more details about Wakelet collections in the next section. Users can access the Search tool to locate specific types of content, or sort their Wakelet collections by last updated, date created, or in alphabetical order.
On the left side of the screen, there is a sidebar with additional options for interacting with Wakelet collection. Users can open or close this sidebar at any time by selecting the Sidebar button, which is located to the left of a page title at the top of the screen.
Search
Serach provides options for searching through personal collections, finding people by username, or searching for published Wakelets by keyword/topic. For example, if I was looking for collections that mention CVI, I could search this keyword to find collections that mention this term.
Explore
Explore features Wakelet-curated collections on a variety of topics, including options for browsing by subject area and resources created by Wakelet or by other users.
Bookmarks
Bookmarks are a private collection that cannot be shared or viewed by others. Users can add their own content, or bookmark/save content from other Wakelets by selecting the Save button. The Save button can be found at the top of a collection or by opening the Card Actions menu (a three-dot icon on the edge of an item within a collection) and selecting Save.
Collections
Collections can be used to view all saved collections in a user’s library.
Shared with me
Shared with me can be used to view or add to collections where a user has been added as a collaborator.
Profile settings
Profile settings appears as a small round icon at the top of the sidebar which includes the user’s profile photo (if one has been set). Within Profile Settings, users can configure account settings, edit their public profile, turn on dark mode, or access Wakelet support.
Adding and saving content to Wakelet collections
Wakelet supported content
Wakelet users can add the following types of content to their collections:
- Web addresses and links
- Text (Note) copied/pasted from another source or typed in Wakelet. Text can also be formatted to include Heading 1/Heading 2 structures, ordered or unordered lists, and bold/italic/underline
- Image uploaded from file browser or web source, with options to add alt text or descriptions
- Content from Bookmarks/My Items
- PDF uploaded from device (unavailable on mobile app, but can be uploaded from mobile web browser)
- Drawing canvas (mobile only)
- Embedded content such as YouTube videos, content from cloud storage such as OneDrive or Google Drive, Flip Video, or another third-party application
Once a user adds content to their Wakelet collection, they can edit it by selecting the Card Options menu (which has three dots in the corner) or long-pressing on content in the mobile app and selecting Edit. Alternatively, users can reposition the content within the document by selecting the arrow keys or long-pressing and dragging the content across the screen.
Saving to Wakelet
There are several options for saving multimedia content to Wakelet collections, and users can save an unlimited number of items to each of their collections. Options include:
Save content in Wakelet app
When using the Wakelet website or app, users can add content directly to their collections by doing the following:
- At the top of each collection, there is a pinned toolbar for copy/pasting links or adding other types of content. Users can either copy/paste a link automatically or select the content they wish to add. In the mobile app, this appears as a blue plus sign icon pinned to the bottom of the screen
- Within a collection in the web browser, tap or hover a mouse directly above or below a card and select the blue plus icon to display the toolbar for adding content.
Saving from a web browser
Wakelet offers free web browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox so users can save links directly from their browser to their bookmarks or a Wakelet collection. Once the desired link/content is open, select the Wakelet button in the toolbar or extensions menu to save it for later.
For mobile devices with the Wakeletapp installed, users can open the share button for a link and then select the Wakelet button from the share sheet to save it to their bookmarks or a collection of their choice.
Copy from another Wakelet
Want to edit a Wakelet collection that someone else posted? Open their collection and select the Make a Copy option. The copied collection will also have a link to the original.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- File Formats For Low Vision and Print Disabilities
Wakelet accessibility: large print and screen magnification
Wakelet’s mobile applications support Dynamic Text and system font sizes, and can also be enlarged with magnification tools or browser zoom. After learning where icons are placed, I largely rely on motor memory for locating icons or menu items.
For users with low vision, I strongly recommend using the Media layout, which can be configured in the Design menu, as this displays all items in a single column layout optimized for browser zoom and magnification.
My favorite part of using Wakelet with large print: Immersive Reader!
I love using the Microsoft Immersive Reader as a simplified reading display, as it provides several options for adjusting the font size of a page and reading text out loud without distorting the formatting of a page. All text content in Wakelet collections can be read with Immersive Reader by selecting the Card Options menu on a piece of text content (the three-dot icon) or long-pressing in the mobile application, followed by selecting Immersive Reader. This does not work with image captions or other types of content, so I strongly recommend adding separate text cards for image captions, video details, or website descriptions to improve readability and ensure readers can access Immersive Reader.
Users do not need to set up a Microsoft account or Wakelet account in order to access Immersive Reader, however Immersive Reader settings do not sync across apps or devices so users will need to configure display options like font size, style, and background color within Wakelet.
Related links
- How I Use Microsoft Immersive Reader With Low Vision
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- My Favorite Free Fonts For Print Disabilities
Wakelet accessibility: text-to-speech and read aloud
Wakelet can be used with built-in device tools such as Speak Text, Select-to-speak, and Read Aloud, but there is no play button or similar shortcut for reading an entire Wakelet collection. However, users can have text content read out loud by enabling Immersive Reader within Wakelet, which provides word-level highlighting and options for customizing reading speed.
Related links
Wakelet accessibility: screen readers and keyboard access
Wakelet’s web browser application is accessible with screen reader software such as JAWS, NVDA, and Narrator, and offers support for keyboard access as well. I was able to use the Tab key to access all sections of content, upload new content to a collection, and rearrange items using the arrow keys on my keyboard. Sometimes, images uploaded without alt text would display auto-generated alt text, though I strongly recommend that creators add their own alt text.
As for the mobile applications, users can view Wakelet collections with VoiceOver or TalkBack, but cannot add new content directly from the application or rearrange it. The Wakelet browser extension/share option does work for adding web content to a collection, but I had to open the browser app in order to edit or rearrange it.
How I personally use Wakelet with low vision
I started using Wakelet in college to help with organizing websites and content from multiple sources for research projects, as I wanted flexibility with rearranging content and a quick shortcut for adding websites and other links of interest. I often use Wakelet to gather sources for a project or to organize links, screenshots, and text content all in one place, sharing collection links with my classmates, professors, or other collaborators. This is especially helpful for creating a digital “AT toolbox” with links and trainings for specific apps or technologies, because I can add images to links so they are easier to view or display text with Immersive Reader.
It’s worth noting that Wakelet isn’t the only digital bookmarking or curation app that I use, as I like to have multiple apps in my own “AT toolbox” so that I can choose the best one for the content I am working on. I like Wakelet for sharing large amounts of links with supplemental text/screenshots as I can add visual links with graphics so that they are easier to locate. But if I want to customize the display of text beyond Immersive Reader or bookmark a website for later reading (with no intention of editing it or adding it to a project), I’ll choose another app instead.
Related links
- How I Outline Research Papers With OneNote
- How To Use Microsoft Office Sway With Assistive Technology
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
Additional Wakelet accessibility resources
- Looking for more information about Wakelet accessibility features for low vision, print disabilities, or other areas of interest? Here is a link to more information directly from Wakelet: Wakelet accessibility features
- Interested in exploring the Wakelet Certified free self-paced course? It cna be found at wakelet.com/@wakeletcertifiedcourse
- Want more posts on assistive technologies and strategies for reading and writing with low vision? Check out Reading And Writing Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
- I created this resource for Wakelet as part of my EDAT 649 class (AT Assessment) at George Mason University. Check out more free resources I created for this class by visiting EDAT 649 Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published April 24, 2024. Updated January 2025